While the holiday season brings some wonderful things (time spent with family and friends, going to parties, and giving and receiving), it also tends to create additional demands on your time, which increases your level of stress and affects your ability to stay focused on your business.
Here are the Do’s and Don’ts I recommend to stay on track and manage stress this holiday season:
Don’t forget to take care of yourself
Taking care of yourself is a great way to keep your stress level under control. It’s also the first thing that we stop doing when we feel like we don’t have enough time, so remember to stick with your regular personal care routine as much as possible.
Do know your priorities
Priorities are those areas in your life that matter most to you, such as your family, your health, or your business. This is the time of year where additional demands on your time can make it difficult to choose where to focus your energy, so be clear about your priorities and choose to spend your time on things that are important to you.
Don’t be afraid to say no
During the holidays it’s common to be asked to do things that require a time commitment so it’s a good idea to plan your schedule ahead of time. Start by scheduling all of your current commitments on a daily calendar. Be sure to take anticipated holiday activities, such as shopping, or baking into consideration as well. That way, you’ll know how much time you have left to spend on other things. Whether it’s to volunteer your time, or attend a holiday party, you’ll be prepared to say “yes” or “no” based on a realistic assessment of your schedule when asked to make a time commitment.
Do review your goals
Hold off on starting any new projects right now. Instead, review your goals and accomplishments from the past year to measure your progress. Focus on identifying and prioritizing those actions you need to take to complete any outstanding goals by the end of the year.
Do have fun
It’s a fact that maintaining a balanced lifestyle reduces your level of stress, so allow yourself time for fun activities that you can share with family and friends.
